Spotting:First trimester

Is there anything my doctor can do?

Many women will notice some spotting or light bleeding early in pregnancy. Generally, women who experience light bleeding in the first trimester will continue to have a healthy pregnancy. Some spotting can be quite normal and does not pose a threat. However, it can also be a reason for concern. Any spotting or bleeding should be reported your health care provider. Describe the bleeding-color, amount and consistency- and any other signs or symptoms that accompany the bleeding. You can use sanitary pads or panty liners to ptorect your undergarments from any type of spotting or bleeding. Do not use tampons during pregnancy.

Implantation bleeding can occur six to ten days after fertilization. You may notice some light spotting for a day or two. Implantation bleeding happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Because you are actually not pregnant, some women will mistake the light bleeding for a period.

Spotting or bleeding can also be an early sign of a miscarriage. It is imperative that you see your caregiver to determine if there is a problem with the pregnancy. The most frightening type of spotting or bleeding during the first trimester is fresh blood, bright red in color, especially if accompanied by cramping. While this type of spotting or bleeding can be serious, it does not always mean a miscarriage is occuring. Your caregiver will most likely give you an ultrasound to try to determine the cause and see if a miscarriage is likely.

An ectopic pregnancy can be signaled by bleeding in the first trimester. This occurs when the embryo implants somewhere outside of the uterus. Usually the fertilized egg will implant in a fallopian tube. An ectopic pregnancy is much less common than miscarriage. However, an embryo implanted outside the uterus can't develop into a normal baby and it can cause serious internal bleeding. Ectopic pregnancies must be removed to save the life of the mother. Other symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include abdominal pain, which is usually worse on one side, lightheadedness and an urge to have a bowel movement.

A rare condition, known as a molar pregnancy, can be a cause of spotting also. An abnormal mass forms inside the uterus after fertilization. Bleeding is the most common symptom of a molar pregnancy. However, it is an uncommon cause of bleeding in the first trimester.

When you become pregnant, your body produces extra blood to supply the growing baby. Therefore, your cervix also has an increased blood supply. You may experience light spotting after sexual intercourse or a pelvic exam. This is normal and generally does not pose a threat. Use a panty liner to protect your clothing.

Cervical infections can be a cause of bleeding early in the pregnancy. Your health care provider will do a series of urine and/or blood tests to see what type of infection is causing the spotting. Antibiotics will be given to clear up the infection.

Trauma, such as falls or car accidents, can trigger bleeding. This can cause tears to the vaginal wall or placenta. Placental abruption can be life-threatening. It is very important to report any fall or accident to your doctor if you are pregnant.

While bleeding during the 1st trimester can be common, it is important to remember that whatever type of bleeding occurs, your health care provider should be notified. Most physicians will closely monitor the bleeding and may recommend bedrest in some cases. You should call your health care immediately if the bleeding is heavy, if you experience chills or fever or if you are passing tissue from the vagina. Your doctor will ask lots of questions and will do a pelvic examination to determine the cause of the bleeding. They may also order lab tests and perform an ultrasound.

eliciamadora -
84 days ago.I was at the ER last night with brown spotting at 8 weeks. Turns out I have a subchrionic hematoma. Baby is fine and well but maybe SCH should be added to this list of reading for bleeding.

danielle@ -
565 days ago.I had in iud 7 month I take it out in july 30 2013 after my period I miss last month period now this month I sopt first see a borwn and it light red period befroe this happen I was geting hot flahing back pain my head was hurting sometime I feel like I want vomit but don't come up I take about 5 pergnancy testing and all tell me that I am not pergnant so what is wrong with me

kathy=^.^= -
670 days ago.i had some spotting last week for a couple day then it stopped. then a week later i started to bleed again but more then spotting and it was bright red. went to the er and they did a scan and some blood work my levels would put me around 6-7 weeks but when they did the scan i was measuring 5-6 weeks but they said the baby was fine well bleeding stopped and 2 days later (now) im spotting and when i wipe its pink! ugh i just want to get passed this first trimester so that i dont freak out so much. with my history of mc's it totally scares me....

bettynka -
865 days ago.hi ladies, according to my last period i would be around 7 weeks pregnant, for the past week i had some dark red bleeding usually in the morning, mild cramps, not painful at all, this is my second pregnancy and from the first one i remember some minor spotting which were nothing really, but this time i paniced as it was dark red, my GP sent me to the EPU the same day, had a scan and saw the baby and a heartbeat, although they have dated my pregnancy a week back, so at that time i was only 5w 5d which surprised me as i read that that early sometimes you cant find a heartbeat, anyway, baby was fine atm, i have some blood above the sac and the notes say its suggestive to a subchorionic haemorraghe, which i read is quite common in the first trimester, so the only thing i can say is try to be positive.

chlprince -
1010 days ago.this is my 3rd pregnancy im so worried i started spotting yesterday a light pink now a bright red. i just don't know wat could cause this i have to wait till tomm for my dr app but its going to be really hard sitting and worrying all night and most of tomm. i hope all is ok

fizzy85 -
1214 days ago.hi all. it's my 1st pregncy n i didnt really know n understand what's happening. read a lot. so much info - books n internet. anyway, i started spotting on off in wk 9. i know it's normal but i was freak out a bit. couldnt do much other than worrying. when i hd light bleed, went to a&e, hd a scan, everything was okay. but hd a very heavy n sudden bleeds in week 11, re-scan two days later, no heart beat. missed m/c. my advice is, try to remain calm (easier said thn done), rest a lot n avoid acidic food. spotting n bleeding is normal but for some reason some ends with m/c.

blueberie_123@hotmail.com -
1247 days ago.Hi my name is jade im currently 12 weeks and 3 days prgnant i went for my 12 week scan today and saw my baby it was moving and everything was fine and baby was doing well i have been coughing for a few days and tonight when i went to the bathroom and wiped down there, there was light red blood that lasted a few seconds only wen i pressed down there with toilet paper this happen a few weeks ago and i had a u/s and everything was normal can someone tell me why when i have been coughing for a few days that it results in a tiny bit of blood down there?? should i be worried???

OhmyBrina -
1371 days ago.I have been bleeding a brick red and pinkish blood for a day and a half now. When it started it was really light and brown and i was getting little cramps, I put on a panty liner then it got slightly heavier and pinkish in an hour. I then checked an hour later because the cramps got slightly worse but not as bad as my usual cramps and it was heavier and a dull darkish red. i put on a pad and over the next five hours it was dark red and brown and kind of like a medium flow. Its now very light brownish red with a little pink. There were few tiny clots in it toward the beginning. I wasnt supposed to start my period for a few days, so it might be an early period, but my periods are usually heavy and bright red right off the bat and dont slow down, usually lasting 5-7 days. i was hoping to be around five weeks pregnant:/ had symptoms such as fatigue, getting light headed after standing up or moving positions, heavier breathing, nausea, sore breasts/nipples, and tiny little twinges every once in a while in my lower stomach. I really hope it isnt AF or a M/C. I havent taken a HPT yet because i dont wanna get struck by a negative result. But i will if this bleeding doesnt last long or lasts longer than usual or if i have severe cramping. Please give me some insight:/

el1986 -
1390 days ago.Ive been spotting for 16 days now. When will it stop! Im on bed rest which has helped a bit but it hasnt stopped totally. I had a scan after 9 days of spotting and they found an SCH. From what ive read the spotting could continue right up untill delivery, ive also read that it can cause placental abruption later on in pregnancy which has freaked me out! especially as we live 15 mins drive from the hospital. when i has my m/c in feb we had to call an ambulance as the bleeding was so heavy, ambulance took 30 mins to arrive and i was loosing a lot of blood the whole time. I lost more blood than when i gave birth at full term and they had to give medication to contract my womb. so scared of something going wrong with me or the baby! anyone else had a SCH? would love to hear your storys.

ohgoodnessbaby -
1428 days ago.I totally freaked out last night when I went to the bathroom I wiped and there was this brown blood and some in my undies and started to panic (ftm) but I read at about 6-7 wish this is common phew!!!

mall -
1520 days ago.Hi all!
I'm new to this and also recently found out I was pregnant, however I am really worried.
Apparently I am about 5 weeks pregnant. My LMP being Dec 23, 2010. I started to spot early into the 5th week of pregnancy with no pain. I went to the ER they did BW and the number is 260. I had bw done 2 days prior to that it was 216 and 2 days before that it was 100. so it started to go up and. I know it should have been in the 400 range. They did an U/S and say that they do see something and everything looks normal, the baby just looks small. So I can either be really early or having a m/c. I have to go back in 2 days and have more bw done to see if the HCG went up.
I have no pain and am still spotting when I wipe. Has this happened to anyone else? Also, this is my first pregnancy. I really want this baby to be ok. Has this happened to anyone? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated and even put my mind at ease to know that someone else has been through this.
Thanks

mocca -
1572 days ago.H3y ladies I have been havin very very light watery pinkish discharge / brown & red so little u can onli see it when I wipe or on a panty liner it seems to be getting smaller as the size of a dime :-/, I am not sure wht it is I haven't had a period for little over a yr I was on the birth control shot and have been off for quite a while me & ma fiance` have been ttc I have gotten test done & everything is fine! I evening had eggs in ma left ovary =) good sign right? So here I am with this spotting? Any suggestions? My doctor says ma urters & ovaries are beautyful no reason 2 worry so that was the most lovely thing 2 hear=) and made me more confident ,so ladies mayb that will give u an idea of everything =D

Shoesy -
1679 days ago.kiki82 - I have the same problem, i bascially found out on monday i was pregant, no symptons, nothing, just tested as we'd been trying and it came up positive, literally instantly i started bleeding, got to the doctors on the monday, they confirmed the pregancy, estimatin me to be about 5-6 weeks, they arranged for me to go to the Early pregancy unit on tuesday for a scan. Got there on tuesday and they said they wont do a scan as they cant pin point the exact pregancy dates as ive been bleeding since the 14th aug, so it might be a period, so confusing, they've now taken my blood and have told me to come back tomoro (thurs) to take more blood to test the hormone levels. I havent a clue whats happening? nor do i know when this bleeding is going to stop, i mean its been like 12 days now, not really heavy, but red in colours with tissue etc in it, im really bloated tho but have no pregancy signs. I personally think ive lost the baby, but i just dont know, its reasuring seeing people with issues on here tho. I mean, they werent exactly friendly in the clinic. and it is our first so we have no idea what to ask, expect etc. If anyone could give me some advice i would greatly appreciate it, will keep you posted on what happens tomorrow tho. Fingers crossed! x x x x

Bouza -
1682 days ago.kiki82 ~ When I was 6 weeks preggo I started bleeding. I went to the ER and they did a vaginal check. Everything was fine. The doctor explained that around this time you can have some bleeding and it is totally normal, as long as it's not bright red and abundant. I know you might hate the word 'normal' by now, but it's true. Try to have an u/s done to check if they can see the embryo. Lie down and take it easy for a few days. Good luck! Sending you lots of hugs and sticky baby dust for you!!! :)

kiki82 -
1682 days ago.hi all im new to this. Im 5 weeks an 4days pregnant iv been bleeding an cramping for days er an dr aren'l telling me anything am im going to lose my baby or could it be something else

omgwtf -
1682 days ago.I NEED HELP I'M SO CONFUSED ! Long story short my period was going on two weeks late. I took an hpt and I guess I didn't get enough urine on it because the control line never showed up. This was yesterday, later on out of curiosity I peed on it again. It was negative of course I disregarded this. I have all the symptoms of being pregnant and I have that feeling. So I went out bought another one, but last night I began to cramp I started so I went to sleep. I woke up this morning no cramps and I'm barely bleeding. My periods are always 28 days on the dot maybe one day late rarely. I always cramp and have sore breast. I have nothing. I don't wanna keep wasting money on test and drive myself crazy. Its probably impossible only had sex once this month and I believe we used protection (drank too much). Does anyone think I could be? I've read that a lot of women bleed a lil in the first tri, I'm just so confused. PLEASE SOMEONE RESPOND

amisha -
1685 days ago.i am due for my period on the 24th of this mth... but since the last 15 days have been experiencing breast tenderness, fatigue and mod swings.... at times energy levels are high and at times i just dont want to do anything at all..... also i have this strong intuition that i may be pregnant.... which i had with my first baby too who is now 3 yrs old. but since the last 2 days i have noticed a slight spotting .... my pregnancy test came negative a wk bk but even with my 1st child it came positive only after the first missed period.... i know i hardly have to wait for another week but the suspense is killing me.... my child really anticipates a baby so for her sake i do wish i am pregnant..... but with this spotting i am telling myself that it mAy not be...

New Mommy Moore -
1689 days ago.5 weeks pregnant and I woke up this morning and I saw pink blood when I wiped. I'm freaking out!! No cramping this morning but I don't know what could be going on. I'm really nervous....I don't want to lose the baby. It's my first one. I'm going to call the doctor in the morning....just really worried and I also have endometriosis. I hope everything is okay.....

kirbyland1986 -
1699 days ago.I'm a little confused!! When I went to loo on the first day I had pink slimy with little brown on the tissue and I thought it was my period (didn't think of how strange it is pink and slimy)also was a day early than i expected it! anyway it stopped after 2 days (well it did bleed a little but not much) but after day and today I started bleeding again but deep red but with brown and does this mean I am ok or I should get a test??

2LadsAndLilLady! -
1709 days ago.hi need adivce etc so scared, started sat night had brown discharge type and left it for then saunday wa sok till half 5 wiped and was bit more red so went hosp, they said deff stil preg butlevels are low but they think as im not as far as i thought, ive wiped today and still bit red, but with dischagre not bright red and not pouring out, im not having any pains and have to go back hosp tomorrow to get levels checked, if going up etc see whats going on if its gone down, i have no idea, im all crying and that and cant seem to stop, any one had anything similer? x

ashhh123 -
1719 days ago.my period isnt due for another week, the last 2 days i spotted very light pink, not enough to fill a panty liner each day. today i started bleeding a little more, but not much & its bright red. i passed a small dark clot, i've had light light cramping nothing severe jst noticable... is this implantation bleeding? or am i having an early miscarrige? ive taken a pregnancy test but it was negative- probably too early anyways. help!

EXPECTINGTHREE -
1729 days ago.Hi everyone. I am new to the website and was hoping for some reassurance. I am 5 weeks pregnant with triplets. I started spotting light brown on Saturday night. I called my Dr. and they told me it is normal and they are not concerned because I just had an ultrsound last week. They said specially since the blood is brown that means it is old. Well Sunday I was still spotting brown. No real spotting yesterday but today I started with light pink. I am a nervous wreck. Any one have any experiences like this with multiples?

Evilangel3007 -
1729 days ago.Hi girls :) we are not alone here (That's one thing you should remember) :)...I've been having the same thing - bleeding, i'm only SUPPOSED to be hitting 9 weeks (this week).. so the hosp say but i'm realy not sure though...I think i'm a little earlier than that as i had a scan fri just gone and the fetus only measures 4mm...I've had NO other probs in this pregnancy (Not like my first with my daughter...God that was awfull, i had survere HG with her - not good) - I've only had MEGA tiredness jeez as that hit me bad lol sore breats ouch :-\ but no sickness at all, nothing like that which is realy good...Then sunday night just gone - all of a sudden a gush of blood came out of me with huge clots, it was sooo awfull and realy scary, me and my partner just broke down cause you just think the worst dont you...We was just so scared, he rushed me to A&E and i got examined by GYNO and she said my womb is still closed which is good thing BUT she said she cant say for certain as ANYTHING can happen any time :( i was then booked in for the fri coming up for a scan to check everything as they will only know for certain by a scan if somethings wrong ...I got home that night and i had nothing but still wore a pad just in case - good job i did cause this morning i woke and my bed was covered (Hadn't had anything since sun night) and i went to the loo and i passed a huge clot :( so i paniced and rung them straight away and they've brought my scan a day forward - i've now got it thurs morn but still the waiting is like a life time :( i haven't had NO pain what so ever though and that's a good sign (I didn't have anything like this with my daughter)...I've known a few ladies that have that the exact same and still have a healthy pregnancy... i'm not going to give up, i'm going to stay possitive :) Hope this has helped abit in some way, Good luck ladies!! x x

pregnantnfreakingout -
1735 days ago.hi eveyone, this is the first time i have visited this site but hope to get some advise and reassurance!
This is my first pregnancy and i am really freaking out. I didnt find out i was pregnant until i was 6 weeks. I started bleeding not long after i found out which set my paranoia into overdrive.
i had a date scan which showed a healthy feotus at 7 weeks and they could see no reason for the bleeding.
I have continued to bleed, very light pink with no need for a pad1 I have had light stomach craps but no clotting but i am scared to hell.
Is it all in my head and the baby is ok or should i be worried. I have been to my doctors who advised me to just keep an eye on my bleeding and if it gets worse go to the hospital.
This isnt really helping my nerves.
I have my 12 weeks scan in just over 3 weeks and cant stand the thought of going and my baby not be there.
Can anyone offer me any advise?
thanks xxxx